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offthehook wrote:

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I generally don't like Christmas much. I like the day because of all the gift exchanging and spending time with family and such but the days leading up to Christmas are filled with advertisements, people rushing all over the place buying stuff, and generally being stressed out. Not to mention that there's basically nothing else anyone can talk about except Christmas. Businesses have become very successful at getting you to spend all your money on things people don't actually need. There's not a single station on the radio that isn't playing Christmas music and not to mention boxing day (which I'm pretty sure isn't an international thing so for those who don't know it's the day after Christmas,) which is basically the day people buy the things that weren't bought on Christmas just do give themselves more things they don't need. Not to mention it's cold this time of year here in Canada but that's another story.

On the actual day though I can forget all of that, exchange gifts with my friends and family, eat turkey and curl up by the fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate. It makes the whole month worth it.

Yeah, Christmas is insanely commercial these days. Honestly, I don't care for santa, I don't care for the tree, I don't care for the snow or the snowmen or the carols or the cheesy songs. What I really, TRULY care about is giving, being appreciative of the things that I am fortunate enough to have, and most of all spending time with my family and friends, whom I love greatly. All I've asked for, every year for the past three years, is one thing. Something that I'll use for a long time, and something that I won't forget about next year. (And that thing is marrying JDL) It helps me to become more appreciative and thoughtful.

Also, instead of letting the presents that you don't want rot in storage somewhere-- donate them! Like, clothes you don't want and such. I bet there are a ton of kids who would kill for some socks, or a new shirt, or shoes, or that toy you don't play with anymore, or hell even underwear.

I think people need to stop giving a damn about santa and the tree, or how you're going to decorate the house this year, but about selflessness, compassion, and being the ones who are giving the gifts... not getting them. And those "gifts" don't even have to be material in my opinion. They can be abstract, like helping someone develop a virtue, or spending time with them and being their "friends and family", helping them get over their fears, over a loved one's death, getting them out of drug-use. Just be creative and be compassionate and benevolent to your fellow man. This is Christmas, I think.